Muscular, 6'2" tall and with an 81-inch reach, McCall spent many years as a sparring partner with Mike Tyson. McCall has also acted as a sparring partner for Frank Bruno. Married with four daughters and one son Elijah, he was brought up on the tough south side of Chicago. Oliver "Atomic Bull" McCall was once trained by former WBA Heavyweight Champion Greg Page, who was with him for the Lennox Lewis fight.

Amateur history Chicago Golden Gloves, CYO and CPD champion.

Created an upset by winning the WBC heavyweight title from Lennox Lewis in London in 1994